Mediaroom

Slovenia takes over the rotating 6-month Presidency of the EU today, having declared the reinforcement of Union’s resilience capabilities as one of its main priorities. Actioning the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, they will push for the facilitation of medical research, development, and production. Slovenia will pick up the baton from previous president Portugal on the Recovery and Resilience Facility to adopt national recovery plans “as soon as possible” with the aim of accelerating the green and digital transition. 

With reference to the green transition, Slovenia’s Work programme declares that their main political priority will be focused on alternative fuels and e-mobility, and recognises the benefits of sector integration with renewable, as well as other sustainable low carbon energy source. Slovenia’s first action with regard to the cited package is to “start the examination of the revision of Renewables and Energy Efficiency Directives. Further deployment of renewable energy sources and more efficient use of energy are two pivotal pillars of the EU’s path to decarbonisation of which potential has to be carefully considered and unleashed.”  

The Permanent Representation of Slovenia has announced their intention to give a boost to digital topics, with the aim to strengthen cybersecurity, digital services and markets, striving for “the digital sovereignty of Europe and the ethical use and development of artificial intelligence”, which, in connection with the availability of big data, is being identified as one of the key technologies of the future. 

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar pointed out Slovenia’s intention to increase the role of the Balkans in all European policy areas: “The European future of the Western Balkan countries and the continuation of the enlargement process must become the Union’s strategic interest”, he said.